poemranker ::Submission by Dovina

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Free verse № 133613

Submission

by Dovina

Member since 2004 · Posted 16 Nov 2005 · 17 comments

I write software for hardware that thinks in ones and zeros. A higher form than it, my code in DNA sports four, not merely two attitudes. I shoot an arrow of desire, piercing hardened heart, while riding a higher language horse, my tongues are Lisp, Machine. I think, and it thinks, or so I say, lead — it follows, or appears to. Imagine a square root negative, I command with determined voice, to which it balks audaciously, “Error — Stupid to contrive a squared thing minus.” At its stubborn gall, I bite contention’s bone, breaking with fantasy its stubborn heart. My servant has no choice, for I have spoken, forced blood from silicone. Like man, it performs for me, submits to forceful charm, and yields to innate fault.

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17 comments

[7] cyan9 17-Nov-05/5:23 AM Reply
Interesting for a poem to go as deep into cybernetics as Lisp programming. The arguement is well put, however the flow has been sacrificed for this (in comparison to your previous work). Also I find that the computing terms you use are not particularly colorful (being computing terms) especially in comparison to some of the more heart ridden moments; putting across a better argument; but a less welcoming poem.
[n/a] Dovina › cyan9 17-Nov-05/7:42 AM Reply
I have usually sacrificed flow for novelty or for saying more precisely what I want to say. I may be more of a storywriter than a poet. In this case, I tried for the terse atmosphere of computers, which struck me as man-like. I tried to compare that with the more feminine nature of programmers, by comparison.
Thanks for your comment.
[7] cyan9 › Dovina 17-Nov-05/8:07 AM Reply
You have succeeded in your ambition and your work. I would say however that the female/male divide is better put as an emotional/intellectual divide. Although this is an extreme generalisation: Men I believe are as emotional as women, but wear it beneath the surface. Women I believe are as intellectual as men, but wear it beneath the surface. On the face of it, it appears that men are unemotional and women emotional, but I think mans concealed emotion appears through his intellect in the form of ideals/morals (hopefully), I believe womans concealed intellect appears through her emotions in the form of concern (hopefully).
[n/a] Dovina › cyan9 18-Nov-05/6:26 AM Reply
As a woman, I wear my emotions under thick layers of superior wisdom and insight, which in all but a few necessary moments supress all the firey darts of chauvism. The apparent emotions that seem always visable are for seduction, the bait, the trap. It's all very well planned.
[10] ALChemy 17-Nov-05/7:37 AM Reply
Is it just for him or all of us hardware men?
You carried that metaphor all the way through like a tightrope walker. Do the 4 attitudes have different screen names? If so dare I ask for their names so I can read their poetry too. Call me a silly romantic but I really can't help but think of it as a love poem.

You inspired another little poem out of me:

It came to me one cold winters day
to take the egg out of Dovina and make DNA.

It may just be because think I actually get all of this one that I feel giddy enough to give you -10-.
[n/a] Dovina › ALChemy 17-Nov-05/7:54 AM Reply
The four attitudes represent the four proteins that make can be selected from in making DNA. A computer can select only from 1 and 0 for any one bit. DNA can select from four proteins for a “bit” of its code.

It’s about love, I’m glad you noticed it. When we seduce him with charm (force charm on him), it’s really yielding to an innate fault that only finds compliment in his terse, computer-like brain.

You’re not getting any eggs out of me. This whole thing about sex is where she keeps hers and he gives his, remember.
[10] ALChemy › Dovina 17-Nov-05/8:08 AM Reply
I thought a certain person (who I will not name) was the inspiration for the computer metaphor. He has confessed his emotionlessness to some degree.
If you start to read it in this way you can see how it made me go "Whoa! Wow!"

Another word for egg is "ovi". Now take "ovi" out of "DoviNA".
[7] cyan9 › ALChemy 17-Nov-05/8:12 AM Reply
Not me, mofo.
[10] ALChemy › cyan9 17-Nov-05/8:53 AM Reply
No it's not about you. Egoboy.
[7] cyan9 › ALChemy 17-Nov-05/9:10 AM Reply
You cant blame me for being paranoid.
[10] ALChemy › cyan9 17-Nov-05/10:08 AM Reply
Don't worry I hardly ever hold a grudge.
[n/a] Dovina › ALChemy 17-Nov-05/8:17 AM Reply
No, it's not about him! lol on the ovi.
[10] ALChemy › Dovina 17-Nov-05/8:55 AM Reply
Damn! I would have loved to hear his response to that.
[8] zodiac › ALChemy 17-Nov-05/11:37 AM Reply
All her other math- and programming-themed poems are about me. I regret to say I probably didn't respond very well.
[n/a] Dovina › zodiac 18-Nov-05/4:48 PM Reply
Hardly, would I write about less than importance.
[7] cyan9 › Dovina 17-Nov-05/8:11 AM Reply
Sorry to be an Ass, but quantum registers now exist, and can contain vastly more information per q-bit using the spin upon different atoms.
[n/a] Dovina › cyan9 18-Nov-05/4:45 PM Reply
You speak, no doubt, of a super man, whom women long for, gush on, then nurse in his paralyzed state til death do us part. Thank you, but your basic binary man, enhanced with compassionate software, outperforms in the end.